You will also experience a unique visit at Lascaux IV cave that will plunge you back to the origins of Art. The tour also includes the visit of some of the most beautiful villages of the area as well as a boat ride on the River Dordogne so as to admire stunning landscapes and mighty medieval fortresses lined up along the River.
Wondrous, Beautiful & Historical !
DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN SARLAT
DAY 2 - SARLAT GOURMET WALKING TOUR AND VILLAGES
DAY 3 - LASCAUX VISIT & THE ART OF THE CAVES
DAY 4 - ROCAMADOUR AND PADIRAC CAVE
DAY 5 - SARLAT
Based in Sarlat, in the heart of the Dordogne region, follow us on this 5-day tour to discover the essential of what this fascinating French province has to offer. Follow your guide on this small group tour and visit one of the most well preserved 17th century town during its bustling market day.
DAY 1 - ARRIVAL IN SARLAT
Arrive in Sarlat on your own and settle into your hotel.
Explore the exceptional beauty of Sarlat at your own pace.
Because modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat has remained preserved and is one of the most representative towns of 14th century France. Located in the heart of the Perigord Noir, the town possesses an outstanding number of buildings and houses dating from the 13th to 18th century. Take some time to stroll through the small narrow alleys and streets for personal discovery. Night in Sarlat.
DAY 2 - SARLAT GOURMET WALKING TOUR & VILLAGES
Breakfast at your hotel.
9.30am Pick up at Place Pasteur Bus Stop in Sarlat
Experience the Excitement of Bustling Sarlat on Market Day
Welcome to Sarlat, one of the most fascinating small towns of France. This tour takes place only on market days, so follow your guide through the winding streets and stroll through the colorful stalls as he introduces you to the local delicacies. Your tour will include stops where you will taste delicious specialties of the region including duck, cheese, walnuts and wine. At 2.00pm, departure for the second part of your day. Pick up at Place Pasteur Bus Stop in Sarlat
The Highlights of the Dordogne Valley in One Short Tour
Drive to the beautiful village of Domme. With its trapezoid city plan, Domme is a bastide, or a fortified medieval town, adapted to the surrounding terrain, and thus falling short of the rectangular city plan characteristic to bastides. The village is classified as one of the “Plus Beaux Villages de France” (“The Most Beautiful Villages of France”). In 1307, Knight Templars were imprisoned in Domme while during the Hundred Years’ War, the bastide was coveted by the English who first took the town in 1347 and repeatedly changed rulers throughout the war until 1437 when it finally fell under French rule again. Then drive to La Roque Gageac and enjoy a peaceful cruise on the the Dordogne River on board an authentic Gabarre to admire mighty castles that line the river. Finally, reach Beynac to admire the village and the Castle. This Middle Ages construction, with its austere appearance, is perched on top of a limestone cliff, dominating the town and the north bank of the Dordogne River. The castle was built in the 12th century by the barons of Beynac (one of the four baronies of Périgord) to close the valley. The sheer cliff face being sufficient to discourage any assault from that side, the defences were built up on the plateau: double crenelated walls, double moats, one of which was a deepened natural ravine, double barbican. See architectural phenomenon, aided by nature, and discover more about the history of this unusual city on this half-day tour!
6.00pm Return to Sarlat and night at your hotel.
DAY 3 - LASCAUX IV VISIT & THE ART OF THE CAVES
Breakfast at your hotel.
9.00am Pick up at Place Pasteur Bus Stop in Sarlat
A Full Day Exploring the Fascinating History of the Cave Paintings
Some 15,000 years B.C. unknown artists created breathtaking cave paintings of which the most extraordinary examples are found in the Dordogne area. During this day tour you will be introduced to this fascinating art and to the people who made it. Begin the day in Les Eyzies de Tayac for a guided visit of the National Prehistory Museum. Opened in 2004, this national museum possesses the largest collection of prehistoric artifacts in the world. Continue to Montignac where you will visit Lascaux IV cave, a perfect reproduction of the original cave. Opened in 2016, Lascaux IV is a triumph of technology. Unlike any other cave visits, Lascaux IV employs different set designs, displays, state-of-the-art interactive workshops and immersive technology to bring it to life. In fact, the atmosphere inside the replica cave is just like that of a real cave: dark, damp and muffled.
Finally, end the tour with the visit of Rouffignac Cave that possesses original and authentic etchings and drawings. The Rouffignac cave was already mentioned in 1575 by François de Belleforest. In his Cosmographie universelle he cites “paintings and animal traces”. In the 19th century the cave was known as a tourist attraction. Famous archaeologists like Henry Breuil, André Glory and Martel had visited the cave in the early 20th century, but it was only in 1956 when Louis-René Nougier and Romain Robert, two prehistorians from the Pyrenees, rediscovered and confirmed the cave art. After the visit, return to Sarlat.
6.00pm return to Sarlat and night at your hotel.
DAY 4 - ROCAMADOUR & PADIRAC CAVE
Breakfast at your hotel.
9.00am Pick up at Place Pasteur Bus Stop in Sarlat
A Spectacular Half-Day Visit of This Most Special Village
Depart for the pilgrimage and fortress village of Rocamadour that attracts visitors for its setting in a gorge above a tributary of the River Dordogne. The village is renowned for its historical monuments and its sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which for centuries has brought pilgrims from every country, among them kings, bishops, and nobles. Follow your guide and visit the renowned Notre Dame Chapel, part of an extraordinary 13thcentury chapel complex perched on a cliff and one of the most dramatic pilgrimage sites in Europe. Enjoy some free time for personal discovery and return to Sarlat.
Lunch will be at leisure.
Discover Padirac cave with a boat tour
After an extraordinary boat journey along the Rivière Plane, the vault rises, the walls move further apart, and the Lac de la Pluie appears. This area of constant seepage is an unbelievable, unique vision. The ceiling is thinner and more fissured, so it lets in raindrops from ground level that constantly replenish this underground lake. The raindrops carry dissolved limestone, which they deposit in the form of stalactites that, over the centuries, have come to form spectacular decorations. Just above, the Grande Pendeloque (Great Chandelier), a 60-m-long series of calcite formations, hangs in mid-air, as though it were the set piece for an unusual theatre.
5.00pm Return to Sarlat. Night at your hotel.
DAY 5 - SARLAT
Breakfast at your hotel and end of our services.
